Surveillance footage shows a group crossing the bridge around 3:10 a.m., shortly before the lights illuminating the flags on both towers went out, said John Miller, the Police Department’s deputy commissioner of counterterrorism. What appeared to be large aluminum pans, like those to cook lasagna for a crowd, had apparently been used to cover the lights.

Those responsible probably had some climbing experience, perhaps even on bridges, Mr. Miller said.

“At this time, no particular nexus to terrorism or politics,” he said. “This could be someone’s art project or someone’s statement. We’re just not clear what that statement is.”

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The incident raised concerns about lax security at one of the United States’ most famous landmarks, particularly since the site is subject to widespread security in the form of 24-hour surveillance by patrol cars as well as cameras at the base of the bridge. Additionally, the trespassers also had to scale a bridge cable and locked gate in order to gain access to the top of the towers.

“It amazes me nobody saw anything…I’m upset,” bridge painter Nick Krevatas, who was called to switch the white flags with American ones on Tuesday, said to the Post. “Isn’t there a better way to express yourself, couldn’t they have used social media?”

Logistics aside, the purpose served by replacing American flags with white ones remains unclear. Police don’t suspect that politics are a motivating factor, but they did not rule out the possibility that it’s all part of some kind of art project.